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Meet 8 Wing's celebrity aviator

Painted on the fuselage of the CF-18 Hornet jet celebrating the 100th anniversary of flight in Canada are the names of 100 aviation giants of flight history.

Included with the impressive list is CFB Trenton's Maj. Michelle 'Micky' Colton.

It was back in 2000 when Colton made aviation history.

On a rainy Friday afternoon in July, the Hercules C-130 piloted by Colton touched down on the tarmac at CFB Trenton.

Colton had accomplished what few other female pilots in the world have ever done, logging 5,000 hours on the Herc.

The Kitchener native became only the third female "Herc" pilot in the world, and the only Canadian female pilot to reach the 5,000-hour mark.

Colton also happens to be the senior flying women in the Canadian Air Force. Colton has now logged 6,530 hours on the Hercules.

Fast forward nine years and Colton has made history a second time.

Colton's names is included with the likes of Canada's first astronaut Marc Garneau, current astronaut Julie Payette, recently aboard the International Space Station, and First World War flying ace and Victoria Cross recipient William Avery 'Bill' Bishop.

While Colton was honoured to be included on the list, she wasn't officially notified. And when the CF-18 demo jet was at the Canadian Forces weekend earlier this month, Colton still had no idea her name was on the list. "I wish I had known, I would have had my picture taken with the jet,'' she said.

She accidentally found out when a friend called, compiling biographies for a power point presentation of the anniversary list.

"It's a very impressive list and a real honour to be included. It's awesome,'' said Colton.

Colton is now working with the transport and rescue standards and evaluation team at CFB Trenton.

Back in 2000, Colton and her crew were returning to 8 Wing from a resupply flight to Alert, Nunavut. She described the flight as an "adventurous'' trip home. Just outside of Greenland, Colton had to shut down number three engine due to mechanical problems.

But the touchdown at 8 Wing hours later was a lot friendlier.

When Colton stepped off the plane her husband, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Chris Colton was there to greet his wife, the record-setting aviator.

Chris Colton is now the executive director of the National Air Force Museum at CFB Trenton.

An official salute and handshake from the acting wing commander at the time was followed by an embrace, and the presentation of a magnum of champagne. The bubbly was shared a few minutes later with Colton's crew.

Colton's record was actually set about 90 miles due north of Pembroke.

"There was a lot of celebrating going on,'' said Colton, shortly after landing. "This is a great, great experience. It will take a while to sink in. I can't really put this into perspective,'' she said.

The record-setting flight also marked a special anniversary. It was 18 years ago to the month that husband Chris gave his future wife her first flight in a Hercules.

Chris Colton was 'Micky's' first flight instructor back in 1982.

"This a very unique feeling to witness as a husband and officially as the acting wing commander,'' said Chris Colton, who retired later that year.

"The Air Force is like a big family, and when the family does something special like this it means a lot to everyone.''

At the time, Micky Colton described the Herc as a plain Jane plane.

"It's not a beautiful airplane on the ground. But when you put it in the air, it has a lot of grace and it's very forgiving,'' Colton said.